[jknoxxx]

We have attempted to contact legal staff in Louisiana for assitance, but to no avail.

My eldest sister was the power of attorney for my mom before she passed away. Myself and my three siblings are not listed on the deed and we have attempted to contact legal staff in Louisiana for assistance, but to no avail. Is it mandatory that legal support comes from Louisiana or can we retain counsel here in California?

[Wondergirl]

We have attempted to contact legal staff in Louisiana for assitance, but to no avail.

My eldest sister was the power of attorney for my mom before she passed away. Myself and my three siblings are not listed on the deed and we have attempted to contact legal staff in Louisiana for assistance, but to no avail. Is it mandatory that legal support comes from Louisiana or can we retain counsel here in California?

Why can't you find legal help in Louisiana?

This is from Googling --

Without a will the laws of Louisiana determine who gets your property. If you die without a will Louisiana law requires that your estate passes as follows:

If no children – spouse gets all the community property, your nearest blood relatives get your separate property.

If there are children – your spouse gets one-half of community property and the use of the other half until remarriage and children share in the remaining one-half of the community and all your separate property.

If you have no spouse – children share equally in the estate.

If no spouse or children– parents and siblings share.

If none of the above – grandparents or the descendants share.

If none of the above – nearest relative inherits the entire estate.

If no relatives – the State of Louisiana receives the entire estate.

[joypulv]

Sometimes real estate gets in a quagmire if a spouse has it in his name only, dies, and his estate is never probated, so the wife can't assume automatic ownership upon his death, nor can her heirs. It has to be probated twice.

You can hire a CA lawyer (not licensed in LA, presumably), since this probably won't amount too much work and won't have to be subbed out to someone in LA, but you'll probably save money by hiring a LA lawyer.

Or you can do the work yourself, starting with any probate announcement in the local paper. Maybe asking a bank where your mother had an account, and where your sister got POA. I assume that she knows no more than you do, and you aren't at odds? If no probate, you need to go back through the deeds to see who was on it when your father died. You might be able to get info by phone or mail. You could ask a real estate agent to help (with promises of the listing), or could pay for going around city hall offices, for less than a lawyer.